Effective immediately, MDRR’s residential recycling program will officially accept #2 plastic squeeze tubes in the blue recycling cart.
By Nicole Impagliazzo, Executive Director, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery
Pittsburg, California – Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), an industry-leading company dedicated to diverting as much material as possible from landfills, is excited to announce a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive and Glacier robotics to gather data on the recovery of recyclable plastic squeeze tubes.
Colgate-Palmolive, an innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets, and our planet, pioneered the development of a first-of-its-kind recyclable tube made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the same No. 2 plastic used for milk and detergent bottles, which launched in 2019. The company shared its patented technology and approach with tube suppliers, other brands, and interested parties. As of 2025, it is estimated that approximately 95% of toothpaste tubes and 85% of all HDPE tubes are designed for recycling, based on industry data compiled by Stina Inc., which leads the Plastic Squeeze Tube Recycling Project.
Now, using Glacier’s AI-powered cameras, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery will be able to collect real-time data on toothpaste tubes and other non-toothpaste tubes—like lotion and shampoo—coming through the facility.
“We are excited to partner with Colgate and Glacier. It represents a significant step forward in our mission to divert as much material as possible from landfills. By leveraging advanced technology, we can improve our recycling and communication practices and contribute to a greener future.” Kish Rajan, MDRR, CEO
Recycle Your Squeeze Tubes – Residential Program Expansion Alert!
Effective immediately, MDRR’s residential recycling program will officially accept #2plastic squeeze tubes in the blue recycling cart.
#2 Lotion, Toothpaste, Sunscreen, and Cosmetic plastic squeeze tubes now go into the blue!
Before placing them in your cart, please be sure they are:
Plastic (no metal tubes)
As empty as possible
With the cap on
Tubes should be placed loose in your blue recycling cart, not bagged.
This program expansion means that more of the items you use daily can stay out of the landfill and enter a recovery pathway, supporting a cleaner, greener community for everyone.
About Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery:
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery serves our customers, communities, and environment responsibly by optimizing the use of discarded materials.
Today, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery serves over 250,000 residents and thousands of businesses throughout Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano Counties. It combines excellence in customer service with competitive rates and operates recycling and recovery programs designed to increase sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery’s Material Resource Facility in Pittsburg, California, contains the area’s largest state-of-the-art recycling processing center and C+D line to keep items out of the landfill.
Our company continues to grow and change to prepare our communities for the future. Consistent with our business values, we invest in programs and technology that maximize diversion and maintain customer convenience and service.
The City of Antioch presents Resource Recovery Ambassadors: a fun training program for all who live, work or play in Antioch to become experts in sorting discards for recycling and composting to help combat climate change! Participants can receive $75 after completing the 2-part training.
Reminder!! Get ready for that shred-it time of year! Tri Delta Transit in partnership with the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and others, brings you the annual drive-thru Shred-It Event on Thursday, April 24th in Oakley.
Get out those papers and remove all large binder clips, plastic ring binding, bindings, binders and heavy folders. Event starts at 9:00 AM and is first come, first served until the trucks are full!
BE READY TO DRIVE UP AND HELP OUT
This is a drive-up event where you will enter at the Cypress driveway, wait in line in your vehicle (turn off car if can), then drive up to the truck.
Helpers will indicate which truck you are to pull up to.
Once you stop where the helpers tell you, please exit your vehicle safely. Give the helpers your shredding or indicate where your shredding is and which ones they are. Once the helpers review the materials, they will dump them into a bin for shredding.
If you want to watch your shredding be shredded, please let the helper know. You will need to pull your car over, exit the vehicle and walk to the far side of the truck to watch with the Shred-It employee.
ALL BAGS AND BOXES the shredding is brought it, must be taken away with you. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to keep it and dispose of it.
Cars will not be allowed to line up until all safety cones and precautions are in place.
Event is first come, first serve until the trucks are full.
Keep in mind that this could be anytime after 9:00 am. If large loads come, the trucks will reach capacity quickly.
If the truck is full, you will be asked to take all shredding home with you.
All bags, boxes and containers that you bring your shredding in, MUST be taken back with you.
A Republic Services garbage auditor inspects a garbage bin on Vista Court in Antioch and left behind a two-sided notice for the resident. Photos courtesy of a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
Began January 2024 following 2016 state law to “address climate change impacts” from Methane, other greenhouse gases
“There have not been any contamination charges or citations issued for residential service at this point. Beginning in 2025, we will be working in conjunction with the City Attorney and Code Enforcement regarding city action to achieve compliance…” – City Manager Bessie Scott
Learn what goes in which bin
By Allen D. Payton
An Antioch resident who contacted the Herald last week, but chose not to be identified, wrote, “thought everyone should know that the City of Antioch has hired Auditors from Republic Services (the City’s garbage collection company) to inspect, take pics, and tag recycle, garbage, yard bins that do not have the correct items. Yesterday morning I woke to a lady auditing my neighborhood and tagging with an informational “oops” tag of bins with wrong items. The lady said she will be back in 60 days to inspect bins again and at that time if items are not placed correctly a ticket with a fine will be given to the household.
I have pictures. I spoke to the Republic Services auditor she was very informative, very nice, and my can happened to be correct (from what she saw) but, almost all my neighbors got tagged and no one knew about this….
I don’t know if this is a kind of story you do, but I just thought our city should be aware…..
I’m not sure how the fines and hiring an auditor works, but I thought the city council should hire someone to clean the garbage laying around our as opposed to tagging & fining residents
Maybe there is more behind this, I’m not sure… but all my neighbors were upset…. A lot of us don’t really understand how to properly dispose of items ….
Like for example we use paper plates in my home, I’ve been placing them in brown recycling….. the auditor said this is wrong and I will be fined next month. Paper plates with food should be in the green container loose not in any plastic bag…..
So again the lady/ auditor was very informative but I just think many people including myself are not aware of proper disposal
Oh also 60 days, would be when our new Mayor starts which I am super happy he got elected (thank you Lord!! Welcome to our new Mayor Ron!!))
But he will probably start the new year with people questioning why they have fines…
Thank you.”
Source: Republic Services
City Manager Explains Program
Questions were sent to staff for both Republic Services and the City, including City Manager Bessie Scott, Department of Public Safety and Community Resources Director Tasha Johnson and Environmental Resources Coordinator Julie Haas-Wajdowicz, asking about the audit, for details and who on the City staff should residents contact with questions and concerns.
City Manager Scott responded with the following, “Please note that pursuant to California Senate Bill 1383 (SB1383), the City of Antioch is required to conduct these route reviews and contamination audits, as well as issue Notices of Violations and fines should contamination persist. Note that Republic began this audit process in January 2024 for residential service, thus we are slated to wrap up our first year of audits. Republic Services, in partnership with the City, has been educating residents around these regulations with “Oops!” tags, and if the issue persists, follow-up contact and reinspection is initiated. In addition to this education and outreach, a post on Nextdoor went out citywide when the program first began in January of this year. There have not been any contamination charges or citations issued for residential service at this point.
“Republic is also conducting this audit for commercial accounts, and contamination charges do occur when recycling or organics containers must service as garbage.
I will work with Julie and liaise with Republic to discuss what additional education and outreach is needed so that customers feel like they know how to sort garbage- as we do not want our neighbors to feel unable to do this as noted below.
According to that webpage, “California State Senate Bill (SB) 1383 was adopted in September 2016 and went into effect in 2022. It establishes 2 statewide targets to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants by reducing the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills.
The 2 statewide targets are:
Reduce organic waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2025.
Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food to donate to Californians in need by 2025.
Successful implementation at the local level will take effort on all parts in the City of Antioch and the community. Please visit this page for program updates and information.
SB 1383 primarily aims to achieve a sharp reduction in the generation of Methane & other harmful greenhouse gases that result from the decomposition of organic materials disposed of in landfills. Organic materials are all materials that come from plants and some materials that come from animals including all food waste, disposable paper products and yard trimmings. The State of California is mandating these reductions to address climate change impacts such as extreme heat, drought, and forest fires.”
State Senator Steve Glazer voted for the bill while then-Assemblyman Jim Frazier voted against it, which was subsequently signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.
Jurisdictions must begin enforcement of SB 1383 compliant programs on or before January 1, 2024.
Inspections and Monitoring
Jurisdictions must conduct inspections and monitor for compliance. Jurisdictions may identify a designee to fulfill these obligations.
Recordkeeping
Jurisdictions must maintain all documentation of inspections and enforcement in the Implementation Record
Penalties
14 CCR section 18997.2 requires jurisdictions to impose the following penalties:
$50 – $100 per violation for the first violation
$100 – $200 per violation if the entity is found in violation a second time for the same violation within one year of the first levied penalty
$250 – $500 per violation if the entity is found in violation for any additional violations of the same section within one year of the most recent penalty
In addition to penalties, jurisdictions may also take actions, such as revoking, suspending, or denying a:
Permit
Registration
License or
Other authorization consistent with local requirements.
As with all SB 1383 regulations, jurisdictions must meet the minimum requirements, but may also implement additional, more stringent requirements.
According to the Best Best & Krieger law firm, “Under the SB 1383 regulations, if a local jurisdiction fails to adopt enforceable mechanisms (ordinances, franchise agreements, etc.) to implement the SB 1383 regulations by Jan. 1, 2022, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) can impose administrative civil penalties against the jurisdiction. Penalties vary based on the severity of the violation. Violations that substantially deviate from the SB 1383 regulations are considered to be major and will result in penalties between $7,500 and $10,000 per violation per day.
Major violations may include violations that are knowing, willful or intentional, or chronic violations. Specific major violations by a jurisdiction include:
Failure to have any ordinance or similar enforceable mechanism for organic waste disposal reduction and edible food recovery
Failure to have a provision in a contract, agreement or other authorization that requires a hauler to comply with SB 1383 regulations
Failure to have an edible food recovery program
Failure to have the required SB 1383 implementation records
Implementation or enforcement of any ordinance, policy, procedure, condition or initiative prohibited by SB 1383 regulations
Failure to submit reports to CalRecycle regarding its implementation and compliance with SB 1383 regulations”
UPDATE 2: City Manager Scott later shared, “we are not punitive, and our enforcement mechanisms strive for (and encourage) voluntary compliance- not delving out fines.”
Good news, Antioch! Beginning the week of May 18th, Republic Services will reinstate all curbside on-call bulky, recycling, and yard waste cleanups as well as large item and e-waste pickups. Customers whose cleanups were postponed will be contacted to have them rescheduled.
If you would like to schedule a cleanup or have any questions, contact Republic Services Customer Service at (925) 685-4711. Saturday neighborhood cleanups will also be rescheduled with dates to be determined.
